Two-Time WSOP Bracelet Winner & Stud Legend Rod Pardey Sr Passes Away
On August 1, the poker world lost a legend of the game when two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Rod Pardey Sr. passed away at the age of 75. According to a post by his son, Pardey��s passing came a month after he suffered a major stroke.
��The final week of dad��s life as he knew it took place on the Oregon coast with his three children and grandson - which was all he ever wanted to do if circumstances would allow,�� Rod Pardey Jr. wrote. ��My siblings and I - along with so many others - are going to be missing this lion of man for a very long time. He was larger than life. He was a rock star who hit the game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth time and time again.��
Pardey Sr., a former professional bowler, was known as one of the best seven-card stud players in the world and enjoyed a poker career spanning five decades
��No matter where he stands in the pantheon of greats, that one fact alone should convince you he was no ordinary man,�� Pardey Jr. wrote.
According to HendonMob, Pardey Sr. has $725,834 in live tournament earnings dating back to 1981. He won his first gold bracelet at the 1991 WSOP when he took down Event #7: $2,500 Limi Seven Card Stud for $133,600. Three years later, he won the 1994 WSOP Event #6: $2,500 Limit Seven Card Stud for $132,000 and his second bracelet. More recently, he nearly captured a third when he finished runner-up to Jon Andlovec in the 2015 WSOP Event #43: $1,000 Super Seniors NLH for $162,100.
Pardey Sr. also final tabled stud tournaments at the WSOP in 2009, 2006, 2003, 1998, and 1988. In addition, he had success in stud events in the 1987 America��s Cup of Poker, 1987 Grand Prix of Poker, 1985 Stairway to the Stars, and 1981 Amarillo Slim��s Super Bowl of Poker.
Fittingly, tributes and stories about Pardey��s longevity in the game poured in upon news of his passing.
��I can't count the number of laughs he and I shared at the tables, both here and in L.A.,�� said Grant Strauss. ��He wasn't extremely talkative in the games, but when he spoke, it was often a gem of dry-humor wisecrack, which I particularly enjoyed.��
Robert Golick shared: ��Have to agree that Rod Sr. has a seat on the all-time stud table. We met in the early 90s at the 75 stud game at the Mirage, I believe Rod had already been in Vegas about 20 years playing high stakes. I was at the final table when he won his first bracelet at Binions - tough table with Mensky, Boston Alan, et al.��
Meyer Picow offered: ��Rod was a great all-around poker player. In stud he excelled, but his all-around poker ability made him a winner in any game. He was a true friend of mine and I will miss him greatly.��
As you can see in the video below, Pardey Sr. never lost his spirit of competition, and while he��ll no longer be in action at the WSOP, his legend will live on.
